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San Antonio One of the Most Gay-Friendly Cities in Texas

San Antonio ranks high on a new ranking of more than 250 cities in the country by the Human Rights Campaign on how gay friendly the nation’s big cities are today, 1200 WOAI news reports.

San Antonio scored an 86 points out of a possible 100, making San Antonio the second most gay friendly city in Texas, behind Austin.

“They want to be seen as a safe and welcoming environment for all of their residents,” said Chuck Smith, who heads the gay rights group Equality Texas.

The cities were ranked on several factors, from the relationship between the gay community and the police, the attitude of local government toward gays, lesbian, and transgendered people, and whether anti-bullying programs are in place in local schools.

San Antonio scored high in all of those categories, and fell down only on ‘relationship recognition,’ because the State of Texas, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County do not legally recognize gay relationships.

“Cities that want to attract business, cities that want to insure all of their residents are treated equally and fairly, all of them enact ordinances to prohibit discrimination,” Smith said.

The average score for the 14 Texas cities studied was 40, and some cities ranked very poorly. Laredo, for example, scored just a 2. Lubbock scored a 5.

San Antonio’s 86 puts the Alamo City higher than Houston at 63, despite the fact that Houston has a gay mayor, and behind Dallas at 85, despite the fact that Dallas County has a gay sheriff.

San Antonio earlier this year approved a Non Discrimination Ordinance which prohibits discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals in housing and employment. Just yesterday, officials released for women who were believed to have been falsely prosecuted on child sexual assault charges because they are lesbians.